What to charge for a five minute video?

G

Gang_Green

Active member
I need to submit a bid for a completed 5 minute corporate type video. We will be shooting in 7 to 10 different locations using actors that client will provide. They want top quality. What should we charge?
 
"top quality" meaning industry professionals and professional gear, a grip truck & a jib and a 2/3" camera and a makeup artist and a professional sound mixer? Charge at least $10,000, assuming that it's a one-day shoot. If it's more than one day, the price goes up.

So the question is, what do they (and you) mean by "top quality"? And what portion of the work will you be doing, vs. hiring others, and how long will it take you and what do you want to pocket out of the job?

Those are all questions that need to be answered. But off the top of my head, I'd say it sounds like a $10,000 job.
 
Edit: DOH! Didn't see that it'd been discussed before.

50 hours? That's five working days. If it's all interviews, then that's different. Don't need a truck or a jib or any of that stuff, so each day is a lot less expensive. Still expensive though... if they want "top quality" and it's just interviews, that means a lighting kit, a sound mixer, a top camera operator with a great camera... figure on $2000 per day, times five = $10,000. Then editing on top of that. 25 hours at $100 = $2500. So $12,500 for the whole gig.

If they want just a guy with a DVX and some Lowel lights and a lavaliere, no makeup etc, I'd still charge at least $1000/day. That'd make the total budget more like $7,500.
 
Sorry to be a jerk; we did just discuss this...

- My other buisnness partner didnt realize she was posting multipule posts on the same topic. - However, we got the better responce from doing so - o-well.
 
And by "Top Quality" - She meant that they want Top Quality but dont know anything about production so they wouldnt know the differnce in having a 2/3 camera or 35mm film vs. High end DV equipment. - as long as it looks proffesional in the final cut.

So it would be: "DV Quality"... (XL2 & DVX) with a boom operator, Camera operator, director and maybe makeup person and a nice Light kit ect...

I think the 7,500 is a good price.. Thanks for all the help.
 
$7500 was for me doing it myself, not having all those other people. I mean, if it's truly a five-day shoot, you can't pay for all them unless you don't want to make a dime on the project. I was assuming that by "interviews", this would be sit-down stuff, so no need for a boom operator, you'd probably just put a lavaliere on 'em.

Camera operator and director both, if you want to shoot cheap, that could be $1000/day. Plus factor that you're paying for lights and audio gear out of that too. But a halfway decent boom operator with gear is going to be $450, and a decent makeup artist is going to be at least $350 if not $450. Per day. If it's a five-day shoot, that'll eat all your profit margin completely.
 
You need to sit down and figure out your rates then you need to log the time you spent shooting or editing the project. I just did a 6 minute documentary that came to $2300. I didnt shoot anything...that is all EDITING! I charge $1,000 a day for 8 plus hours of editing and there was 2 days of that.
 
Ouch. Numbers like these make me want to stay rooted firmly in commercial still work.

With these fees, does the client get an unlimited exclusive license to your work? Does copyright transfer to the client? How is the license agreement written out? What about short commercials- are they for a specified term?

thanks.

fn
 
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